Hakjry lytle



HARRY LYTLE, or LIBERAL, iviIssoUnL i f FOLDING CHICKEN-Goor.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J une 10, 1919.

Application filed June 13, 1917. Serial No. 174,588.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY LYTLE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Liberal, in the county ofBarton and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chicken-(loops, of which the followingv is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in crates and the principal object of the invention is to provide a crate or coop for chickens and the like which may be folded up after use so as to occupy but little. space.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the parts in both extended and folded up condition so that there is no danger of the coop coming apart in either condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide spring bolts for holding the ends and sides in engagement with each other and also to hold the top in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and one which can be v manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end view, the coop being shown in folded position in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional view of one end of the coop, the coop being shown in folded position in dotted lines.

In these figures 1 represents the botto or floor of the coop, provided with the sleepers 2. 3 represents a pair of stationary uprights for each of the side members, and 4 represents the pair of stationary uprights for each of the end members. These uprights are secured to the oor or bottom by bolts, nails, or the like. The uprights 3 for the side members are of greater length than are the uprights 4, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The uprights of each pair are connected together by a cross bar 5, located near the floor. Each upright has its upper end reduced in width to form one part` of a hinge, the other part of the hinge being carried by the side and end-members. The side and end members each consist of the end, bars 6, connected together at the upper end by the cross bar 7. The lower end of each end bar is provided with a slot and the reduced upper ends of the stationary uprights engage in said slots and are pivoted therein by means of pins 8, thus the members are hinged to the uprights. The end bars for the end members are provided with the iianges 9 at the upper ends through which pass the sliding bolts 10, said bolts being provided with the springs 11 which normally hold the bolts in extended position with their ends projecting from the flanges. These bolts are adapted to engage with holesformed in the upper ends of the end bars of the side members and also engage with holes formed in the downwardly eX- tending ends of the end bars 12 of the top or cover 13 of the coop. These end bars are connected together by the side bars 14. A block 15 is secured to the central part of each end bar 12 and a latch 16 is carried by this block and is adapted to engage with a pin 17 on the cross bar 5 on the lower part of each end of the device, when the coop is in folded position. The sides and top may be covered with wire gauze as shown, or they may be covered by strips or in any other suitable manner.

When the coop is to be knocked down the sliding bolts are moved inwardly so as to disengage the top, after which the top is removedand then the bolts are moved farther inwardly to release the end bars ofthe side members and then the end members v are pushed inwardly until they rest on the oor. The side members are then swung inwardly to rest on the end members, vthe stationary uprights of the side members being of greater length than those for the end members permitting this movement. The top or cover is then placed in position on the collapsed side and end members and the latches 16 engaged with the pins 1'?.l Thus the parte' are locked together and they will occupy but little space, so that they may be cheaply JshippeclA tothe i owner ongolacedL ini storage.

The inolosing Walls of the crate maybe of each consist of a frame over Which is stretched Wire fabric, the latter being` Lsef.'

cured to the frame bars in any manner. The

topywiill ,bepiomideduvithgth'e usual :opening f (not shown) through which the'chiclrens are adapted to be placed and removed *from the COOP ,Thsvpenng also admits of. accessi being hfwlto the bolts '1Q for manipulating short .and long uprightswatthenendsl and l Y sides .ofil the bottoimirespectively,"jendf and side members hinged to the said upright,

'bars secured to the vertical edge portions of any construction, but it isgplietfellod Leihen@ itllo kond"memloe1=S,;.and having iianges at their edges, bolts mounted in the `flanges, springs-onlthe bolts between the lsaid flanges, a removable top and bars at the ends of the topiliawingfdepending end portionsoyerlap.- ping.they'sidel members and receiving the projecting ends of thesaid bolts.

In testimony whereof@ mygglle.,

Gopieofthins'patent may jbembtainedipr ye cents each,'b y addressing the #Commissioner' oivgl'aigepts,

Washingtomy'asf mi i 

